The localities around the inundated drains were submerged and the residential population was struggling with the flooding. The Mithi River overflowed and the areas around it lay submerged in deep water. There were power cuts in most areas. The condition of low-lying areas in the city reflected the wrath of rain and the destruction that it had caused. All communication between the city administration, government and the public had snapped.

In the last ten months they had met seventeen times. Initial meetings happened at crowded places like Haji Ali dargah, Worli Sea Face, Chowpatty, Marine Drive, Churchgate, Hanging Gardens, Colaba and the Gateway of India. One February evening, it was the first time that they went to the beach near Dadar station where there wasn’t much crowd. The shore had shrunk and the ground seemed to bend towards the sea. Getting into the water in this area was equal to putting their life at stake. There were vendors who sold bhel, ragda patties and coconut water, but there was no suitable space to sit. Both did not like the area. They got up and walked towards the road. Seeing a crowd gathered at Chaitya Bhoomi, they proceeded towards it. Hina had told Asrar about the Mahaparinirvan Day, when a huge crowd of Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s followers gather annually on 6 December. Asrar was glad to gain some information about the Chaitya Bhoomi.

After reaching there, they sat in a restaurant and drank tea. A middle-aged man was sitting and having tea at the other end of the restaurant. Asrar observed that a few couples came and inquired about something at the counter and then headed towards an area adjoining the restaurant. Asrar thought there was exclusive space for couples beyond the wooden partition. There was a Malabari man at the counter. Asrar spoke to him. The Malabari man told him that they served tea in the cabin on the other side. Asrar ordered tea to be sent into one of the cabins for them. The Malabari man said, ‘The charge is Rs 150 per hour.’ Asrar agreed to pay this. He asked Hina to join him for tea in the cabin. They got up. The Malabari man called a waiter who showed them the way.

It was slightly dark and in the dim light, Asrar saw that there were ten or twelve cabins. There were blinds put on them. The waiter rolled up one of the blinds and showed them in. The waiter said that he would get them tea soon. It was darker inside the cabin. Hina said, ‘It was better outside.’

‘Do not say a thing. Stay quiet.’ Asrar put his finger on her lips.

There was very little space to stand in the cabin. A small divan was kept in the corner for sitting. There was a rack opposite the divan. Asrar had gestured to Hina to stay quiet, but she still spoke, ‘There’s no place to sit here.’